The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is to limit drop-in facilities for homeless people living on Ratchadamnoen Avenue to tidy up the area.
According to Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, a Ministry of Social Development and Human Security report showed that the situation for homeless people had improved, with the number expected to decrease from 1,600 to 1,400 this year.
However, Mr Chadchart said that the situation on Ratchadamnoen Avenue is still concerning, especially after photos of homeless people living in front of the abandoned buildings on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue near Satriwithaya School went viral recently.
Mr Chadchart said that the spot drew the homeless as it is known that some people visit at night to offer food and cash.
“One of the main solutions is to limit the drop-in locations to one under the Phra Pinklao Bridge and the another in Sake Alley on Assadang Road,” he said, saying that this aims to not only tidy up Ratchadamnoen Road but also streamline registration procedures for the homeless in the future.
City Hall has also been attempting to make work available, and according to Mr Chadchart, 169 job positions have so far been offered to the homeless.
The BMA also plans to change the location of the Baan Imjai shelter to Chaloem Wan Chat Bridge after the rental contract on a former building in Soi Mansri is over, said Mr Chadchart, adding that a refurbishment will be finished this year.
Meanwhile, according to Weeraphan Suphanchaimat, chairman of the Thai Health Organisation’s (ThaiHealth) Directing Committee on Health Promotion for the Homeless, 500–600 of the 1,217 homeless people in Bangkok live in Phra Nakhon district and Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
This information led ThaiHealth and related sectors to establish a drop-in spot located under Phra Pinklao Bridge, which provides everything from job positions and healthcare support to basic hygiene facilities, such as a laundromat and shower room, for homeless and vulnerable people, said Dr Weeraphan.
According to Thapanee Sirisombun, director of the Bangkok Homeless Protection Centre, the age range of newly homeless people who registered with the drop-in spot ranged from 40 to 60 years old.